Eight years after last game, Sidekicks return with legend as coach

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ADDISON — Looking at the Dallas Sidekicks’ roster, it’s evident coach and co-owner Tatu has assembled a nice blend of veterans and younger players with potential. That group includes former Dallas standouts Patrick Shamu and Nick Stavrou and a younger contingent including Michael Uremovich, son of former Sidekick Mike Uremovich.

But Tatu, a former player and longtime franchise icon, doesn’t know what to expect heading into Saturday’s season opener with Harrisburg.

“I wanted to have veterans who bring leadership and knowledge and the young players who will bring the energy. That was the idea,” he said. “I don’t know if we’re good, we’re bad or where we are. After we play a couple games, I can see where we are and where we have to get to. But until we play the first game there’s a lot of unknowns.”

Despite an incomparable playing career, coaching the indoor game has been a big adjustment for the 50-year-old, who has been coaching at the youth level for much of the past two decades. “The indoor game is a little different from the outdoor game,” he said. “It requires your full mental commitment when you’re on the field. The transition from offense to defense, it has to be automatic.”

And part of that adjustment involves trying to make outdoor players with little to no experience indoors into solid indoor players.

“Some of those guys are great players, but I can tell they’re outdoor players,” he said. “I’m trying to make those guys indoor players and we’re early in the process. Offensively, we’ve made good progress. Defensively, we’re far away from where we’re supposed to be. But this is not a sprint. It’s a marathon.”

The Sidekicks last played in April 2004, and Tatu sees the current style of indoor soccer as being much different than how the game was played in the past.

“It was more of a slow pace, a more technical game. Now it’s more chaotic,” he said. “I don’t think we’ll match what was done in the past. The idea is not playing fast and chaotic but also not slow. If we can find a medium, then we’ll be successful. Otherwise we’re going to struggle.”

As of Thursday, this weekend’s opener was nearly sold out, but that doesn’t mean the man behind the Dallas bench isn’t nervous. “When you’re preparing to play, a lot is under your control. When you’re coaching and part of the management team, you don’t know what you have,” Tatu said. “I’ve been waiting for so long [for this]. I’m just praying to God it all comes out and goes well on the first night.”

Steve Hunt is a Frisco-based freelance writer

IN THE KNOW

The Dallas Sidekicks

Dallas will play a 16-game schedule in the 19-team Professional Arena Soccer League. … The Sidekicks’ first opponent, Harrisburg, is coached by former Sidekick Richard Chinapoo, who had two stints in Dallas (1988-90 and 1991-92). … Coach and co-owner Tatu is one of two former players who will have their jerseys retired this season. David Doyle is the other. … Dallas is one of three Texas-based teams in the PASL, joining the Rio Grande Valley Flash (Hidalgo) and Texas Strikers (Beaumont). … In their initial run as a franchise from 1984-2004, the Sidekicks won four championships in three different leagues.